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ADDRESS 



OF THE 



PRESIDENT ?/Y 



OF THE 



NEW-JERSEY SOCIETY, 



FOR PROMOTING THE 



ABOLITION OF SLAVERY, 



TO THE GENERAL MEETING AT TRENTON, ON WED- 
NESDAY THE 26th OF SEPTEMBER, 1804. 



PUBLISHED BY REQUEST OF THE SOCIETY, 

1 ™ 



;—— « aiaa»Mi t'Tnrn 



TRENTON, 

PRINTED BY SHERMAN isf MERSHON. 

1204* 






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ADDRESS, e^f^. 



ALTFIOUGH it has not been cuflomary, and perhaps 
is not now particularly neceffary, to open the tranfadions 
of this meeting with an addrefs from the chair, yet I per- 
fuade myfelf, that the relation which I bear to the Society, 
will excufe me for claiming their attention to fome ob- 
fervations on the general flate of its affaurs and objeds of 
purfuit. 

Indeed, I could wifH it had been thought advifeable, 
. to have made it the constitutional duty of the Prefident, an- 
nually, to give to the Society general information, and 
recommend for its adoption fuch meafures as Ihould ap- 
pear conducive to its fupport and ufefulnefs. 

Before I come to fubmit to the meeting particular 
propofitions for confideration, and motives to diligence, 
I defire to take this pleafuig opportunity of adverting to 
the origin and utility of our INSTITUTIONS for reliev- 
ing and releafing the moil oppreffed ofthe human race, .j 

'* The New-Jersey Society for promoting the 
ABOLITION OF SLAVERY," bccame conflitutionally or- 
ganized on the 2d of May, 1793. Through the agency 
of its general and diftricl meetings, ading with unweari- 
ed diligence and prudent regulation, it has exhibited to 
other places an encouraging example, and produced with- 
in its own limits much of that good for which it was in- 
ftituted. — They have labored with patience, and not with- 
out reward, exceeding the moll fanguine hopes ! 

Theirs has been the fatisfadion of beholding the minds 
of their fellow-citizens gradually giving way to a convic- 



\ 



C 4 ] 



tion both of the impolicy and the wickednefs of human 
bondage ; — of perceiving laws enafted friendly to the ob- 
jeds of their inftitution, and the treatment of mafters be- 
coming more confiderate and gentle ; — of witneffing the 
general good conduft and difpofitions of this degraded 
people, and their capacity for higher ufefulnefs and more 
individual enjoyment ; — finally, after ten years of exer- 
tion, by writings, converfation, and continued memorials 
to the State Legiflature, they behold the reprefentaiives 
of the people uniting in an act, which muft at length ex- 
tinguish ALL Slavery in New-Jersey ! 

How much of this change is due to the difmterefted 
cares of this fociety, and what their particular merit may 
be, in bringing about the great law which abolilhes here- 
ditary valTalage, is not for me to eftimate ; — it may be 
fafe however to infer, that if others have co-operated, yet 
to this Inftitution muft be attributed the origin, and zeal- 
ous profecution, of all the great fleps which have led to 
fo fortunate a conclufion. 

Purfuing the fame objea:, other aflfociations in other 
flates, and nearly of co-temporary date, have, with equal 
fmGerity,if not with the fame fuccefs, advocated i\\e general 
right of civil liberty ; — they have every where car- 
ried and planted the feeds of emancipation, which, how- 
ever How they may vegetate in fome foils, rendered ftub- 
born by habits of intereft and prejudice, will yet take root, 
and in due feafon mature the wiflied for produ6:. 

From thefe local ajfociations has fprung an inftitution, 
which, from its elevated ftation and charafter, promifcs 
the moft permanent utility— I mean the "American 
Convention/' This body dates its rife from a meeting 
in the city of Philadelphia on the \^ of January 1 794, un- 
der the title of" A Convention of Delegates from the AhoU- 
" tion Societies eJab/iJJjed in liferent parts of the United 
" States'* Thefe delegates continued to meet annually 
(one or two years excepted J until the \Q.th of January 
1803, when they became embodied under a written Con- 



[ 5 ] 

ftltutlon (previouHy propofed to and approved by the pa- 
rent affociations) by the name of " The American Conven- 
" tion for promoting the Abolition of Slavery a?id improving 
" the Condition of the African race.'' This Conftitution 
is fimple in its form, but well defigned to perpetuate its 
eilabhiliment, and advance the great ends for which it 
was formed. 

I cannot but here repeat, that much has been eifecled 
through the agency of thefe charitabie and difniterefted 
focietics. Could all which has been done, in the fpace of 
ten years, within the United States, by not more than 
one \hoifand perfons thus affiliated, be prefented at one 
view, the difplay would equally excite wonder and gra- 
tification ! 

The public fentiment has been changed, and the pub- 
lic laws amended ; — hundreds have obtained liberation by 
claims made in their behalf to public judicatures — and 
thoufands difcharged by individuals, convinced at length 
that reafon and reUgion condemned their title to hold, as 
property ^vci^Yi created free by one almighty father, and 
deltined (for ought that we can perceive) to caramon rights 
and happinefs, both here and hereafter. Whole States, by 
folemn acts of Legiflaticn, have abrogated this condition 
from among them ; and the great reprefentative body of 
the Union, manifefls a determination to prohibit foreign 
traffic, and promote m.eafures favorable to the improve- 
ment and gr»^dual emancipation of the negroes.. Ncr is 
this change confined to mere perfonal liberation : — for, 
notwithftanding the compHcated difficulties which phyfical, 
political, and local caufes prefent, this people are advanc- 
ed m the fcale of intclleclual and focial exiftence. Ihey 
are domociled into families ; — formed into religious fo- 
cieties ; — have in fome places eftablifiied fchools, and 
hundreds been taught, through private liberality, the ru- 
diments of learning. Perceiving themielves to become 
objecls of regard, and looking forward to a more com- 
fortable and lefs abjecl ccndition^they ailimilatCjmore and 



[ 6 ] 

more, to their fuperiors In habits of induftry, and all the 
occupations neceflary to fubfiftence and tending to exte- 
rior decency and focial enjoyments. 

It cannot fairly be denied that fuch has been the pro- 
grefs, and thc^^wt^r^^/refult, of the efforts made in the caufe 
of emancipation. 

Combining, then, what has been done, with the ftill 
greater objeds to be accomplifhed, what motives — what, 
powerful motives, of encouragement as well as duty, prefs 
upon us to renew and enlarge our exertions I 

Under thefe pleafing views and Impreffions, yet con- 
ceiving it highly neceflary to ftimulate our members to. 
engage in further plans of ufefulnefs, I Ihall, with diffi- 
dence, fubmit a fev/ remaiks on Q.Qridin fpecific fubjed:s of 
confideration. 

Thofe feleded as of a nature fo general and important, 
as to jullify, in my apprehenfion, a claim upon the deliber- 
ate attention of thsftate meeting are, what relates, — FirJiA 
To the AmePvIcan Convention — Second, to Educa-| 
TioN — TJj'trd, to District Meetings, ZTid.i\\& exienfw)i 
of memberfhip and funds. 

firjl. In regard to the " American Convention." This 
body, by one of its articles, is to be compofed of reprefen- 
tiUives from the refpeftlve focieiies within the United 
States ; — and, by another article, is to meet annually at 
Phiiadelphia, on-the id Monday mjammry. 

It mufl be apparent that, from the fheady and wife de- 
liberations of fuch an afiembly, the greateft effefts may 
be expected. Compofed of the moll diligent and diftin- 
guiflied friends of abolition — carrying with them local in- 
formation from al! parts— combining their meafures, upon 
an accurate view of the whole ground, and fuperintending 
the tranfactions of the whole Union ; — it is from that 
enlightened, zealous, and r£fpe6:dble colledion of men^ 



I 7 ] 

•^ve may confidently look for thofe comprehenfive and en- 
ergetic proceedings on the fubje£t of llavery, which, while 
they perfuade, encourage and inftrucl individuals of fmal- 
ler alTociations, will reach conflituted authorities, and con- 
vey to Legiflatures fentiments and fa6ts, calculated to en- 
gage governmental policy on the fide of natural right and 
gradual emancipation. 

But the continuance and force of the " American Con- 
vention'* refls on the fupport of the refpedive affociations. 
They mufl: punftually fend their delegates — affilt in pe- 
cuniary fupplies — faithfully diffeminate the public proceed- 
ings of that body — and cheerfully fubmit to its recom- 
mendations. It is impoffible to forefee the extenfive 
good which may be produced from this national inflitu- 
tion, if it is made to grow up and derive conflant accef- 
fions of intelligence and vigor from the foftering care and 
ountenance of the conftituent focieties. 

It is not enough to have made begimiings, or even 

3me advances : — This great evil has taken deep root, 

^d fpread wide : — Nearly one million or a fifth of the whole 

American population are slaves ! — worked and bartered 

js beafts ; — their intelle£tual and moral condition as 

much, if not more, debafed than their focial and political 

relations. Many of the States reap from this fource rich- 

■es and revenue, pun reprefentative weight in Congrefs ; — 

and thoufands of wealthy and influential men in the fouth- 

ern ftates derive, from its exiftence and perpetuity, moil 

ef their pecuniary enjoyments and the hopes of their pof- 

terity. 

Nor is it to be wilhed, much lefs expecled, that fudden 
and general emancipation fhould take place. A century 
may and probably will elapfe, though every fair exertion 
Ihall be made, before it can be eradicated from our coun- 
try. 

Still, however, the real philanthropifl and chriftian 
fhould fteadily purfue the beft means of Icilcning, and, by 



[ 8 ] 

temperate fteps, of finally extinguifhlng the evil. There 
fliould be no fears that any eiforts, however perfevering 
or fuccefsful, will too foon obliterate this (lain from the 
American character. The danger rather to be appre- 
hended is, that, as riches increafe, and corruption (as it 
will) gains on the public morals, the fpirit of active and 
difmterefted benevolence will be diminiflied, if not whol- 
ly overcome, by the ftronger incentives of avarice, flimu- 
lated by voluptuous and felfifh paffions. At leaft, it is 
the part of pjudence to forefee and guard againft thefe 
propenfities, — and while, as yet, individual and national 
feelings are alive to fehtiments of charity and juftice, to 
extend and ftrengthen thofe Public Injiitutmu, from whofe 
fyftematic and perfevering meafures, alone, we may with 
any confidence exped general and permanent effeds. — 
In this view of the fubject, I cannot but repeat, that it ap- 
pears to me a matter of the firfl moment for us to fupport 
the American Convention. 

Second. Befide the great and ultimate object of total 
emancipation, which lies however deep in futurity, a fe- 
condary, yet more immediate, claim demands all the care 
and attention of our Inftitution— I mean the Mental Im- 
provement of thefe people. '• 

This is, indeed, an extenfive and arduous duty: — 
Vain, almoft worfe than vain, will it be, to have pro- 
cured for them the light cf freedom, if no adequate means 
Ihall be purfued tor refcuing them from intelledual dark- 
nefs. 

But how fhall they acquire the means of Education I 
It feems not within the compafs of private contribution 
and efforts, to effeft this on any general fcale or withm 
any fliort period of time. Of other defcriptions of poor 
children a very large proportion go uneducated. What 
then is to become of the progeny of Blacks, who are now 
to be born free in the State of New-Jerfcy, and thereby 
to acquire the privileges of other inhabitants ? In addi- 
tion to the poverty and llavery of their parents, and the 
fcantv revenue to be procured from private munificence, 



C 9 ] 

there occurs a ferious difficulty in obtaining their admif- 
fion (though money ihould not be wanting) into white 
fchools. So that, even in villages and populous places, 
for the want of teachers of their own complexion, they 
may go untaught. 

In reflecting on this'fubjed:, it feems to me, that the on- 
ly pradicable and indeed the cheapeft method of ex- 
tending education throughout this cla's of people will be, 
to furnifo them with teachers of their own condition and 
colour. 

If enough of thefe could gradually be qualified to be- 
come Tutors, and fettled in proper places, they would 
meet with fonie fupport from the parents of the children 
whether free or Haves ; — and the white inhabitants of the 
neighbourhood v/culd, in mod cafes, be induced to pa- 
tronize, regulate, and affifc fuch fchools. Befide, giving 
to this people teachers of their own, would infpire a prin- 
ciple of emulation and pride, favorable to morals and re- 
finement. 

Many reafons might be fuggefled, would the limits of 
an addrefs permit, in favor of the theory of black Teach- 
ers and Schools. But thefe, together with the project it- 
felf, muft be left for detail to other perf^ns : — I only mean 
to fugged the idea and the outline. 

Let it then become a fixed and great objed of the 
General Meeting, to eflablifh a Fund for educating a cer- 
tain number of young men or boys of colour, annually, 
for Teachers. Let our Society be incorporated^ and lb 
capable of receiving and holding property by donation, 
bequell and purchafe. Let a Standing Committee be ap- 
pointed to folicit from the Legiflature, public bodies, and 
private perfons, gifts, legacies, and dated fubfcriptions, to 
this fund. — How many humans and generous iiidividu- 
als might be induced to bear the whole expenfe of quali- 
fying a boy to becom.e the tutor of his feiiow-blacks ! — 
Let this Committee be charged to prepare w -plan for ob- 
taining the education of fuch number of bovs as the fund 

li 



[ »o ] 

and other aids may authorife ; — alfo to devlfe the bed gen- 
eral method for their eftablifliment in proper places as 
they fucceflively become fitted for the employment. 

This fcheme neceflarily fuppofes a confiderable lapfe of 
time to bring it into operation ; and will require a patient, 
alTiduous, and judicious courfe of management. It is 
fufceptible of various objeftions, and certainly of many 
difficulties ; yet, without further vindicating its principle, 
I cannot but hope, that a Coininittee on Education might, 
by purfuing this or fome fimilar fyftem, prefent a plan 
which could be afted upon with advantage. 

Under this head of Education, I beg to fubjoin a few 
remarks on the duty of " The Commitice of Publica- 
tion*' : — 

It was deemed an objeft, worthy the attention of this 
Society, to nominate a Committee with that title, whofe 
province it was, to colled and pubhih fach original and 
extrafted pieces as might aid the caufe of emiancipation. 
This general point being now carried, and no further ftep 
expefted on it in this Hate, it occurs that, leaving to the 
American Convention, and theoretical writers, the talk 
of conducing that department, this Committee might be 
now ufefully employed in circulating among the Blacks, 
through the medium of the fociety, fmall, plain and cheap 
manuals, containing religious inftruftion ; — recommend- 
ing to them, alfo, fobriety, honefty, and diligence ; — en- 
joining the pradice of cleanlinefs, frugality, manners, and 
all the domeftic virtues ; — and enforcing thefe precepts 
by motives mod likely to operate on fuch under/landings. 
Thefe little trads, being addrefled immediately to them, 
would more excite their curiofity, and engage their ob- 
fervation ; — they could find means of having them read 
over and over again. It need fcarcely, however, to be 
remarked, that much caution will be requifite, even on a 
fubject apparently fo firaple, leall offence is given. No- 
ticing fiiould be thus publifhed, which can awaken any 
feftarianjealoufies, or interfere with the order of domel- 



[ " ] 

tic fubordlnalion and authority ; — in fliort, they mufl be 
confined to topics on which all agree and all approve. 

Third. To the fubjed of Dijirid Meetings, the exienfion 
of Member fbip, and the Funds, IwJOvXdi particulary invite the 

attention of tnis afiembly. 

I fear it will be proved, on an impartial view of the State 
Inftitutions, that they have not pvogreiTed in the ratio 
which was to be expefted from the zeal and liberality 
which marked their beginnings. Symptoms of languor 
are too apparent ; — our funds, our members, and, may 
I not add, our exertions, fall fhort of what exilied in the 
very outfet ! — If this be fo, no ftronger argument need be 
fuiniflied to impel us immediately to devife plans for re- 
pairing and extending the means of our ufefulnefs. 

I ft. In regard to the ordinary revenues — it fhould feem 
requifite to call on the Dijiricl Meetings to forward to the 
Treafurer any monies in hand ; — to render up particular 
accounts of monies received and outftanding ; — and to 
enjoin on them the neceffity of collecting^ from delinquent 
members all fums in arrear. This fubjecl might proper- 
ly be referred to the fpecial fuperintendance of a Commit- 
'tee, whofe duty it fhould be to obtain from the Diftrid 
meetings a full fettiement. 

2d. On the fubjeft q{ M ember Jloip — it is certainly wor- 
thy the attention of the General iVieeting to adopt feme 
method for extending the fphere of aflbciation. To this 
end, it might be prudent to Icjfen the annual contribution, 
and iffue recommendations to the different Diftrid meet- 
ings to appoint committees, or purfue other efficient 
meafures, for the exprefs purpofe of promoting the eftab- 
lifhment of new Difirict meetings, and procuring an ac- 
ccfuon of members to the old ones. It is probable that 
the whole number of perfons in adive aflbciation through 
the whole ftate does not exceed one hundred and fifty ! 
\n one half of the counties there exifts no fociety, and, 
in many, not a fmgle member. Surely, by proper exer- 
tions. Meetings could be organized in every county, and 



\\ 



[ 12 ) 

the aggregate of members greatly Increafed. A particu- 
lar Co///w/V/^^ 0/ M^wZ'^/y/j/.^^ might be charged with the 
duty of tranfmitting to the feveral Diflrift meetings a pro- 
per reprefentation on this fubjed. While on this head, 
I think it further neceifary to add, that the Diftrift meet- 
ings Ihould be urged to a cautious appointment of delegates 
to this body, and to enjoin on thent zpuncliial attendance. 
The Committee of meiiiberfhip would alfo be properly 
charged v/ith communicating this recommendation. 

I have directed the Treafurer to lay before you his an- 
nual account, — and the Secretary to report to me on di- 
vers points of enquiry, — to fome of which I fliall advert 
in the courfe of the fitting. I fliall not, gentlemen, fur- 
ther trefspafs on your patience, but proceed to co-operate 
with you, in my place, on the bufmefs which may come 
before the meetmg. 

WILLIAM GRIFFITH. 



